Nut blanching machine



Dec.'22, 1936. E. J. REBECHINI NUT BLANCHING MACHINE .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 MN 5 u E. J. REBECHINI NUT BLANCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1934 Dec. 22, 1936;

NUT BLANCHING MACHINE Filed No 9', 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet s wlluwuuwvll E. J. R EBECHINI NUT BLANCHING MACHINE Dec. 22, 1936.

Filed No'v. 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7/? y W M 7 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE NUT BLANCHING MACHINE Eugene J. Rebechini, Chicago, 111.

Application November 9, 1934. Serial No. 752,198

8 10 Claims. ((1146-32) This invention relates to a nut feeding machine and concerns itself with an improvement of the machine shown in my PatentNo. 1,604,133.

The present improvement contemplates the use of spiral elements for-feeding the nuts in single file as in my former device. The spiral elements are, however, provided with intermediate retarding portions with which rotatable members cooperate for rubbing the skins from the nuts and cleaning the same. In addition, means are provided for tilting the spiral elements.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a side' elevational view of a feeding machine involving this invention with the supporting legs broken away.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view-of the machine taken, in a longitudinal direction.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine taken just above the spiral elements.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially upon the line VV of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken upon the line VIVI of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of this invention which may assume various forms. In the form shown, a rectangular frame i for supporting the spiral elements ,2 is provided. This frame comprises hollow end members l-a, l-b and hollow side members l-c and ld. The member I-a is pivoted upon brackets 3: resting upon a base frame 4 of any suitable construction. While the pivotal nonnection between the member l-a and the 5 pins 5 preferably project from the ends of the member into bearings in the brackets and serve as trunnion's upon whichthe frame can be tilted. Upon the bottom of the frame member l-b are suitable bearing ears 6 in which the upper ends of screws 1 are pivotally secured. These screws are threaded into bevelled pinions 8 which are rotatably mounted upon bearings 9 secured to .a transverse beam ll) of the base frame. The 55' screws should project into the bearings 9 to maintain the gears 8 in position and to provide sufiicient length for adjusting purposes.

The gears 8 are in mesh with bevelled gears I I secured upon the outer ends of the shaft l 2 which is journalled in suitable bearing brackets l4 ris- 5 ing from the beam ID. A bevelled pinion I5 is secured upon an intermediate portion of the shaft l2. A hearing bracket l6 rising from the side of the beam I0 supports a shaft l1 upon which a handwheel I 8 is secured. The inner end of the 10 shaft I! carries a bevelled gear I9 which meshes with the gear IS with the result that when the handwheel is rotated, the shaft l2 will be rotated for raising or lowering the screws 1 and the frame I.

The spiral elements 2 which are carried by the frame I are spaced apart a short distance that, however, precludes the nuts from falling therebetween. Thes spiral elements are'geared to gether by means of gears 20 secured thereon ad- 20 jacent the forward ends thereof. Oneof thespiral elements designated as 2'-a has its shaft journaled in the ends of the frame I and extends through the forward member |-b for supporting a. driven pinion 2| driven by a beveled pinion 5 brackets 3 may be eifected in various ways, pivot 22 secured upon a shaft 23 journaled in the ends of the frame members lc and l-d that project beyond the transverse member. i-b. The shafts of the other spiral elements are rotatably supported by means of thrust bearing balls 24 which 3 extend into suitable sockets in'. the ends of saidshafts and into suitable sockets in the inner ends of bearings 25 extending respectively through the end members l-a. and [-17 of the frame I.

Above the spiral elements 2, there is a hopper 26 (Fig. 3) supported by the frame I for receiving the nuts and feeding the same by gravity to the spiral elements. It will be noted that adjacent the hopper, the spirals 21 on the elements are spaced apart a considerable distance and have an appreciable advancing slope or pitch, while an intermediate section has narrower spirals 28 of less pitch or slope for causing a retardation of the nuts. Beyond the section of less pitch, the spirals are similar to the spirals 21 as indicated.

Adjacent the forward ends of the retarding sections comprising the spirals 28 and located thereabove there is a shaft 29 which is journaled in bearing brackets 30 attached to a slide gate 3| on the near side of the hopper for controlling the discharge thereof. Grooved disks 32 are secured upon the shaft 29 in suitably spaced relation to receive in the grooves thereof, the upper ends of partition plates 33. In referring to Fig. 4,

4 extend from .the forward ends of the spirals 21 the spiral elements into operative pairs. The.

to a point that embraces a portion of the spirals 28 and that they are located upon the sides and between the spiral elements. The partitions33 are positioned between those spiral elements between which the nuts are not designed to be fed. In other words, the partitions prevent the :nuts from being fed between those spiral elements between which they are located and they divide sides of the disks are provided with cam-like humps or projections 34 which are preferably arranged in a circular series just inside or the peripheries thereof and are adapted for engaging the nuts for rubbing the skins therefrom and cleansing the same.

The aforementioned slide gate 3! embodies a pair of racks 35 projecting upwardly therefrom and with which spur gears 36 (Fig. 5) are in mesh. The spur gears are secured upon a shaft 31 which is journaled in brackets 38 attached to the side of the hopper; A handwheel 39 is secured upon one end of the shaft 31 whereby the same may be manually rotated. It will be evident that the rotation of the shaft 37 will simultaneously adjust the slide gate and the disks 32. Consequently, if the discharge from the hopper is restricted the disks 32 will be moved closer to the spiral elements; On the other hand, if the discharge from the hopper is increased by further opening the slide gate, .the disks 321 will be moved'further away from the spiral elements since the same are attached to the slide gate.

The machine is operated from a motor dill located upon a platform 4! secured to the bottom of the frame I. The motor has its shaft 42 extending into a gear box 43 and is connected by 23 drives the spiral element 2--b which in turn is geared to the other spiral elements for operating the same. At the same time, the shaft 23 drives the disk .shaft 29 through the sprocket gearing 44 for rotating the disks and causing the same to rub the skins from the nuts and cleanse I the same in the event that it is desired to coat the same with chocolate or the like. It will be noted that the retardation section comprising the spirals 28 on the spiral'sections will delay the feeding movements of the nuts in the region of the disks 32 and cause an accumulation in such region. The nuts, however, will travel. in single .file from the rear end portions of the spiral elements for coating purposes.-

' From the foregoing,it will be apparent that a novel machine -has been provided for singly'feeding nuts in spaced relation together with means for cleansing the nuts and removing the skins and scaly matter therefrom. It will further be appreciated that the large increase in the pairs of from. the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise tharr necessitated by for'blanching nuts including a plurality of retatable and parallel spiral elements, rotatable members mounted adjacent and above said elements for acting on said nuts, a hopper for feeding nuts to said mechanism, an adjustable feed gate on said hopper, means carried by said gate for supporting said rotatable members and means for adjusting said gate for simultaneously varying the discharge and the positions of said rotatable members with respect to said spiral elements and means for rotating said spiral elements and members.

2. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of pairs of spiral elements in parallel relation, said spiral elements having intermediate portions of lesser pitch creatingretarding portions, partitions between said pairs of spiral elements, and rotatable members above said-elements at the forward ends of said retarding portions for acting upon said nuts, said members having grooves for receiving said partitions and means for rotating said spiral elements and members.

3. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of pairz gof spiral elements having intermediate spir' portions,-a hopper for feeding nuts forward of said retarding portions, rotatable members cooperating with said elements adjacent the for- -.ward ends of said retarding portions and located between adjacent elements, said rotatable members having grooves, and partition plates between said pairs of elements extending into said grooves and means for rotating said spiral elements andmembers.

4. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of pairs of spiral elements in parallel relation, said elements having intermediate spiral portions of lesser pitch than the forward portions creating thereby nut retarding sections, a hopper for feeding nuts upon the forward portions of said spiral elements, an adjustable feed gate upon said hopper, a shaft carried by said feed gate, rotatable members secured upon said shaft for cooperating with said spiral elements at said retarding portions for blanching nuts, said members having grooves, partition plates between said pairs of spiral elements extending into said grooves and means for adjusting said gate and members for simultaneously varying the discharge from the hopper and the distance of said members from said spiral elements.

5. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of pairs of spiral elements in parallel relation, said elements having intermediate spiral portions of lesser pitch than the forward portions creating.

1 portions of lesser pitch creating retarding thereby'intern ediate nut retarding sections, a

hopper for feeding nuts tothe forward portions of said elements, rotatable elements cooperating with said spiral elements at said retarding sec-.

tions and located between adjacent spiral elements, means for causing said nuts to travel be-' tween the spiral elements of each pair: and means for rotating said spiral elements and rotatable elements.

6. In a machineof'the class described, a plurality of parallel spiral nut feeding elements arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and having retarding sections, .a. shaft extending I means ior rotating said spiral elements and shafts.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of parallel spiral nut feeding elements arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and having retarding sections, rotatable members above said elements and located at said retarding sections and rotatable upon an axis transverse to said elements for acting upon said nuts, each rotatable member being in a plane between adjacent spiral elements and means for rotating said members and spiral elements. 7

8. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of parallel spiral nut feeding elements arranged in a horizontal plane, a hopper above said elements for supplying nuts to said elements, an adjustable gate on said hopper, a shaft carried by said gate, disks secured upon said shaft for cooperating with said spiral elements for blanching nuts,

each disk being located in a plane between adjacent spiral elements and means for rotating said shaft and spiral elements.

9. In a nut blanching machine, a plurality of parallel spiral nut advancing elements arranged in a horizontal plane, a hopper having a discharge oriflce for supplying nuts to said elements, said elements having spirals of retarding pitch rearwardly of said orifice and rotatable members above said elements and rotatable upon an axis transverse to said elements for cooperating therewith, each member being located in a plane between adjacent spiral elements and means for rotating said elements and members.

10. In a nut blanching machine, rotary spiral elements arranged in a horizontal plane, rotatable members located in planes between said elements and cooperating therewith for blanching nuts, a hopper above said elements and having an adjustable feed gate for supplying nuts to said elements, and connections between said rotatable members and feed gate whereby said feed gate and said rotatable members may be simultanements and members.

EUGENE J. REBECHINI. 

